How far can an EV go?

Affordable electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe will do 168 and 179 miles respectively.

Those in the luxury category, such as the Tesla Model S and Jaguar I-Pace, will do 265 and 292 miles respectively.

And this is a good indication of the kind of range we can expect from future models from other manufacturers.

The infrastructure has improved over the last five years too with more and more service stations installing car charging points, not to mention those that are popping up in city centres, public car parks and workplaces.

You can, of course, also charge at home.

Parking considerations

To establish whether an electric car is right for you, you need to think about how you drive, the distances you cover and where your car is parked during the day and overnight.

It’s likely that an electric car could be a viable option.

In 2016, 11% of household vehicles in England were parked in a garage overnight; 60% were parked on private property; 25% were parked on the street and 3% were parked in other places.

If you park on the street or somewhere else, an EV might not be for you.

40 miles per day is average

The average speed for most vehicles is around 34mph and the average car will do around 9,000 miles per year.

If you break this down by working day, it means that most cars don’t go more than about 40 miles per day.

If you’re lifestyle fits into this average, then you could be a good candidate for an EV.

Most motorists would agree that their day-to-day driving fits well within the range of the Nissan Leaf or Renault Zoe but it’s the longer trips that still worry people.

What about longer trips?

Sometimes you drive across the country to see family, fancy a road trip around the Cotswolds or have to drive to the airport for a holiday.

Most of these longer trips, depending on where you live, will exceed the range of the Leaf, Zoe and similar electric vehicles but with a stop at a service station, or in a city, for a spot of lunch and a chance to stretch your legs, your car could be charged again.

It’s very likely that when you stop to refuel, you also take some time to get a bite to eat, catch up on your emails or do a little shopping.

Yes, electric cars take some time to charge but it’s a chance for you to take a break, something we can all agree is an important part of a long drive.

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